Scarlet Steel

The Mnemosyne thrive in harsh environments. Their planet’s temperature is far above boiling, with oceans of sulfuric acid instead of water. Their alien physiology has been both a boon and a curse between our two species. Planets habitable to both our species are non-existent, leading to no competition for space, and no risk of future problems as humanity continues to expand across the Spur. - An Intro to Mnemosyne Physiology

“Come on, Juno’s waiting for us.” Exa breaks off our hug after a few minutes.

“Ok.” I pull up my shirt to clean off my face. “Do I look bad?”

“Like hell, but that’s pretty typical around here.” Exa leads the way through the hanger, towards that single door built into the wall. “Just a warning, you’re going to see someone who looks like your uncle Sieve. He’s not, don’t get excited.”

“What? What does that even mean?”

“He’ll want to explain it himself. Just don’t rush in and hug him in relief.”

“Ok.”

Behind the door is just another door a few feet away, already open. I guess there’s no need to cycle an airlock when both sides are pressurized. The space beyond opens into a large living room. Couches are spread throughout the center, and a full kitchen takes up the left wall. Grand windows dominate the far wall, giving a clear view of the planet’s horizon and the stars beyond. Apparently Not-Sieve is pacing pack and forth anxiously. He freezes when we walk in, but another man speaks up before either of us can say anything.

“Well look at that. Poor Bitty’s back on her feet.” A man I’ve never seen calls out. He’s well-kept, with styled hair, flawless skin, and expensive clothes.

“Don’t be an ass, Graff.” A woman next to him drives her elbow into his side before glancing back at Not-Sieve, giving him a small nod.

The man, Graff, rolls his eyes in response, but keeps his mouth shut.

“I need to explain myself.” Not-Sieve’s voice is quiet, unsure. “I suppose the only place to start is this: My name is Janus, and it’s nice to meet you.”

“Janus.” Not Sieve. Not my uncle. “What happened?”

“I am something far more akin to a child of the human you used to refer to as Sieve, and the AI you used to refer to as Numbers. The human and the AI gave themselves to each other. They melded permanently, and I exist as the result.” Any fear and uneasiness is entirely missing from his voice. His explanation is rehearsed, pre-recorded.

“So you’re not him?”

“No, and I’m truly sorry to be the source of your disappointment. Despite that, I hope you don’t blame me for taking them from you. Both the human and AI knew the outcome, and they made their choice so that I may live.”

I should go work on Hoppy. My body itches, demanding I work, but I force myself to stay still. He’s waiting for an answer, fearing what I might say. I have to say something.

“Ok.” I force myself to nod. “You’re Janus, and I don’t know you.”

“Correct.” He lets out a breath, the tension melting from his body. “To be clear, I hold the human and AI’s memories. I know of you, but do not know you either.”

“Right.”

“Right.” He agrees.

“Alright.” Juno’s voice pulls my attention to the side. She’s leaning against the railing of a set of stairs along the right wall. “The two of you can get to know each other later. You’ve got work to do before we leave orbit.”

I take her distraction and head towards her without another word, followed closely by Exa.

“Way to go,” Graff says behind me. “You scared the new Miller.”

“Graff. Seriously.” The AI says.

“Just ripping off the bandage early.”

Juno turns and heads up the stairs, and I follow. The staircase lets out into a long hallway with doors at regular intervals. A plaque sits on every door, and I freeze as one catches my attention. I reach out, tracing the embossed letters with my fingers.

Miller.

“Is this…”

“Just the plaque. We cleared out the room years ago. I did find some of your dad’s stuff in storage that I left in there though. Belongings he cared about.”

“Right.” I let my hand fall back to my side. Of course they wouldn’t keep his room untouched. I don’t just get to step into his shoes.

“Come on.” Exa places a hand against my back and gently guides me on.

A door opens automatically as Juno approaches and guides us into an office. There’s no desk, just a table with four chairs surrounding it. The holographic form of Elara is already sitting at one of the chairs, and Juno takes her place beside her.

Exa squeezes past me to take her seat at the table, and I take the last chair.

“Just a warning,” Elara says. “I’ll be opening a connection for Conation to validate this conversation.”

“You’ll be what?” I ask.

“Quantum AI bud off of larger quantums, and still hold a connection to both them, and other quantums that budded off the same AI. You can think of it in family terms if it will help, although given the fact that I was them at one point, it’s horribly reductive. Maybe mitosis would be a better way to think of it? Either way, I can connect to my parent, as well as my siblings, regardless of where we are in the physical universe. A trusted quantum is a way to ensure that an agreement is reached without being able to fabricate or change the terms later. Do you consent to him overseeing this meeting?”

“I do.” Exa says.

“Sure.” I add as well.

“Excellent. Scarlet Miller, are you here of your own will?”

“Yeah.”

“And Exa, are you here of your own will?”

“I am.”

“Juno, you may proceed.”

“Alright Kid, get cozy. We’re going to be here for a while.” Juno reaches into a filing cabinet and pulls out a collection of papers several inches thick. “We have a standard contract that I’m going to walk you through.”

Even with Juno summarizing entire sections, it still takes hours to go through everything. I have to fight the whole time to remain conscious, much less to pay attention. In fact, it takes long enough that the AI that I don’t know brings Juno and I lunch, and sticks around only long enough to introduce herself. Her name is Xenia, apparently.

I feel like I’m signing my life away with every line I sign and every initial I jot down. To make an incredibly long story short, the contract is pretty simple at the end of the day. Juno is going to take care of everything. Food, boarding, getting me medical attention if needed including top-of-the-line prosthetics as good or better than organic limbs.

A large part of the documents revolve around death or incapacitation. Who will you leave your belongings to? If unable to make your own decisions, who do you trust to make medical decisions for you, and in what order should those people be listened to? In the event of your death, your family will receive a stipend for the next twenty years. Who would you like to receive that stipend? On and on she asks endless questions, almost always with the same answers.

In exchange for everything I’m getting, all I have to do is work. I follow any orders that don’t break any laws, and can leave at any time. All in all, I think it’s fair. I don’t feel like I’m being taken advantage of, and I trust Juno not to do that anyway.

Finally, Juno goes over the last paper and sets it to the side.

“That’s it. Scarlet, welcome to the group.” She reaches out, and I shake her hand. “First few ops, you’re sticking to one of us the whole time. You’ll be running with Exa as Apollo-4. Elara and I have the callsign Apollo-1, Janus is Apollo-2, and Graff and Xenia are Apollo-3. Eventually, you’ll be running as our scout, and for the first year or so, staying the hell away from combat. You see someone? You report it and run. I don’t want you so much as firing your gun until I say you’re ready, got it?”

“I can do that.”

“Good. The rest of the day is yours. Anything on the first floor that doesn’t have a name on it is free game. Tomorrow you start your routine. Six hours in the simulator with Janus, a two hour break, and then you’re with Exa fixing up your Hopper for another six. If that’s a problem you can get back on the dropship now.”

“Only six hours? I’m used to working more than that on Hoppy.”

“Hoppy?” Juno pauses, caught off guard.

“I was seven when I named her.” I stare her down, daring her to make fun of me.

“I forgot you named Niel’s mechs. You’re nothing if not consistent I suppose. I’ll get that registered.”

“Come on, Kid.” Exa stands up, resting a hand on my back. “You need to get some rest.”

“I’d love to.” I stand up and stretch my cramping body. Literally every joint is sore from sitting for so long.

I shuffle behind her back into the hallway.

“How am I so sore after sitting in a chair?” I wonder aloud. “Hoppy’s less exhausting.”

“What, you’ve never spent a day on your computer?” She asks.

“Not in a chair. I just sit on the ground or my bed.”

“Your back’s going to hate you when you’re thirty.”

“That’s fine, I can just get a new one.”

“That’s a pretty dummy idea.”

“Well I’m a pretty big dummy, so…” I shrug.

“Aren’t we both.”

The door to my room automatically slides open as I approach. It’s a simple room, all things considered, but grand compared to the sleeping bag I’ve spent so long in, and even bigger than my old bedroom. I even have my own window, right above a spacious bed.

An entire wall is dedicated to storage. Empty cubbies are built directly into the wall, and open sliding closet doors reveal plenty of space. My clothes are already hung up, but look tiny in comparison to the space.

“Who went through my stuff?”

“Andromeda, Juno asked her to.” Exa answers.

A large desk sits against the opposite wall. It’s the only part of the room that’s decorated. I step forward and reach for a picture frame. I have to tug a little bit to pull it off the magnetic desktop.

Dad looks so young, even younger than I remember him. He’s standing proudly in a military uniform, a large medal hanging around his neck. I tap the side of the frame and it shifts. He stands in front of a mech, a White Lie painted with the livery of a planetary defense force I don’t recognize.

The next picture isn’t of him, but of a woman absolutely drenched in oil and grease leaning against his mech. The next picture is of that same woman, although clean. Mom looks just as young.

“I’ll leave you alone.” Exa says quietly. “Don’t stay up too late.”

I fall back onto my bed and continue to flick through the frame, taking in precious snapshots of my parent’s lives.

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